gem show excursion

For the last two months I've worked on more custom/commissioned pieces than anything else. I did get to go to my favorite gem show and pick up some wonderful strands. This show is an invitation to the trade only - one day a year affair, and I was determined to attend, after missing it two years in a row.

The first part of my gem/bead buying preparation involves going through my current stash, er, I mean inventory, and determine what I need to replenish. My "assistants" always get sidetracked putting together fabulous earring and necklace combinations, for themselves of course. Then I start on my wish list, which gets whittled down to a workable balance of gems and colors I really want to work with.

On most buying excursions, I only get a step or two inside the door before I stuff my well thought out list into the depths of my purse and turn into a kid in a candy shop. This time I was calm, cool and collected. I got most of what I wanted, and found a few treasure strands of unusual gems. Time to create!

here's a warm-up doodle

sparked by design or doodle

I just cracked the spine on my latest design journal.  I've been keeping a design journal for at least 6 years - after I finally decided that the scraps of paper method just wasn't working for me.  I usually fill two or 3 books a year with sketches of course,  but I also use it for business to-do lists, supply lists, an occasional grocery list, and doodles.  I doodle when I'm on the phone (taking notes) and especially doodle when I get stuck and need something to spark my creativity.

This is a design sketch that ultimately became two watermelon tourmaline pendants.

         

This is a doodle that helped me resolve the focal point of one of my vintage Mardi Gras bead necklaces.

  

Can't see how this helped?  It's in the eyes:  on all of the strands of Mardi Gras beads I have, there was only one eye bead, and it fit nicely inside of a frosted glass donut bead.